EngAGE Art 2017-2019

Intergenerational Arts Project, to address social isolation and have a positive impact.

The main aims of the project are:

•Engage older people in intergenerational arts projects with school children as a method of addressing social isolation and to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing
•Use the medium of arts to create linkages between generations in communities improving older people’s community connections, participation in the arts
•Create sustainable opportunities for continued intergenerational arts by creating partnerships between schools and care homes
• Showcase and recognise arts produced by older people as part of each intergenerational arts project at an event that connects all groups involved
• Provide community arts opportunities for local artists

The first three projects were held in:-

Blair House West Winds Estate Newtownards
Bradley Manor Crumlin Road Belfast
Clareview Nursing Home Ballyclare Co Antrim

It involved six sessions beginning in April and ending in a Celebration and Exhibition in June.

Arts sessions for Care Home residents and students from local schools were facilitated by a local artists. Creating art that would be a permanent display in the care home and in the school.

All the pupils completed a Dementia Awareness Course prior to the first joint session. This created an atmosphere that was really relaxed and full of fun. The sessions were really creative and really enjoyable. While they were working on the art it became a feature that singing began. It started with the residents singing sings from their youth and the pupils joining in

Engaging pupils from local primary schools:

West Winds Primary School P7 pupils
Holy Cross Girls Primary School P5 andP6 pupils
Ballycare Primary School P7 Pupils

The next group of care homes are:

Castlelodge Care Home Antrim
Sunnymead Residential Home Armagh
Abington Manor in North Belfast.

LGNI also accessed 2 year's of funding for this project from the ACNI Arts for Older People fund. Over the 2 years LGNI partnered with 6 Care Homes and local schools to engage residents in intergenerational arts sessions supported by local artists.

The groups participated were: